TORONTO: Canada’s main stock index edged lower on Monday, as energy shares tracked weaker crude, ahead of an expected renewal of the monetary policy framework by the Bank of Canada later in the day.

At 9:41 a.m. ET (14:41 GMT), the Toronto Stock Exchange’s S&P/TSX composite index was down 10.79 points, or 0.07%, at 20,879.83.

The energy sector dropped 1.5% as oil prices fell over new concerns about the Omicron coronavirus variant and doubts around the effectiveness of vaccines against it.

The healthcare sector, down 0.9%, added to losses with major pot producers including OrganiGram Holdings Inc , Tilray Inc, Cronos Group Inc down nearly 2%.

Investors await the press conference by the Bank of Canada Governor Tiff Macklem and Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland due at 11:00 a.m. EST to announce the BoC’s new 5-year mandate.